Hi,

I would like to know what are the symptoms of BIOS viruses and whether it's
possible to get infected by BIOS viruses while running Windows XP Pro.

Thanks

Viruses are designed to destroy your PC.
The only solution is a "Clean Install".

Clean Install Windows XP
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Amir Marathonian" wrote:

| Hi,
|
| I would like to know what are the symptoms of BIOS viruses and whether it's
| possible to get infected by BIOS viruses while running Windows XP Pro.
|
| Thanks

"Amir Marathonian" <AmirMarathonian@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message news:667A6569-99F7-44FE-8710-290CFE22182D@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
>
> I would like to know what are the symptoms of BIOS viruses and whether
> it's
> possible to get infected by BIOS viruses while running Windows XP Pro.
>

Most "BIOS" viruses have no symptoms until the payload is triggered, usually
by a certain date like the 26th of the month. At that time they overwrite or
flash the BIOS rendering your computer useless. You would have to replace
the BIOS chip or the motherboard. Some motherboards have a Dual BIOS setup
so that the computer can still boot from the second BIOS but this is rare.
The only other BIOS virus I have heard of is a very old (1994) virus that
all antivirus programs should find. It had nothing to do with the computer
BIOS it merely has the text "BIOS" embedded in the code. If you suspect you
have a virus then update your antivirus program and do a full scan of your
computer. You could also try an online scan. There are some here:

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/activescan.htm

http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/

Kerry

"Carey Frisch [MVP]" <cnfrisch@nospamgmail.com> wrote in message
news:e8iPAdgzFHA.3864@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Viruses are designed to destroy your PC.
> The only solution is a "Clean Install".
>
> Clean Install Windows XP
> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
>

That is ludicrous. Most viruses that flash the BIOS are easily detected and
removed by most antivirus programs. If the payload is triggered then the
computer won't boot. A clean install is impossible at that point.

Kerry

From: "Kerry Brown" <kerry@kdbNOSPAMsys-tems.c*a*m>

| "Carey Frisch [MVP]" <cnfrisch@nospamgmail.com> wrote in message
| news:e8iPAdgzFHA.3864@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>> Viruses are designed to destroy your PC.
>> The only solution is a "Clean Install".
>>
>> Clean Install Windows XP
>> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
>>
| That is ludicrous. Most viruses that flash the BIOS are easily detected and
| removed by most antivirus programs. If the payload is triggered then the
| computer won't boot. A clean install is impossible at that point.
|
| Kerry
|

That's correct Kerry.

Assuming the BIOS Flash RAM chip is NOT write-protected, the closest any infectors have come
is to wipe the BIOS or corrupt the BIOS. The main viruses (yes these are true viruses) are
the CIH (aka; Chernobyl) and Kriz.

No virus has ever infected any BIOS !

{ There once was an Award BIOS that was released that played a Happy Birthday on the speaker
but that was released by Award and programmed by a "disgruntled" employee. Such a situation
has not been repeated. }

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm

From: "Amir Marathonian" <AmirMarathonian@discussions.microsoft.com>

| Hi,
|
| I would like to know what are the symptoms of BIOS viruses and whether it's
| possible to get infected by BIOS viruses while running Windows XP Pro.
|
| Thanks

There is NO such thing as a "BIOS virus."

Therefore there are no smptoms.

If you think you have a virus or have a question about viruses, the following are the
apropos News Groups to post to.

microsoft.public.security.virus
alt.comp.virus
alt.comp.anti-virus

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm